Alison Lundergan Grimes to run against Sen. Mitch McConnell

Jul. 1, 2013

Alison Lundergan Grimes, who has been Democrats' top pick to challenge the Senate minority leader since actress and activist Ashley Judd announced in March that she wouldn't do so, met privately with supporters Monday and then announced her decision to the media. (The Courier-Journal)

FRANKFORT, KY. — Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes answered the wishes of Kentucky Democrats on Monday, announcing she will challenge U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2014.

“I have met with my supporters, we have had a great conversation and determined and decided that we can next make the best move, the best difference in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, by running for the U.S. Senate,” she told a hot room packed with supporters and reporters in Frankfort.

Immediately upon hearing of the decision, Jennifer Duffy, a senior editor at the non-partisan Cook Political Report, moved the race from “likely” to “lean” Republican, essentially upgrading Democrats’ chances.

And Democratic political consultant Danny Briscoe said Grimes’ candidacy “is the best news Democrats could have hoped for” because a strong candidate at the top of the ticket will mean good news for down-ticket races.

“The base of the party will be galvanized and the turnout will increase greatly,” Briscoe said, adding that he believes her candidacy will help Democrats maintain control of the state House.

However, Grimes starts off in a fundraising hole because McConnell’s campaign had $8.6 million on hand as of March 31, according to federal election filings. And he was quick to react:

“Accepting the invitation from countless Washington liberals to become President (Barack) Obama’s Kentucky candidate was a courageous decision by Alison Lundergan Grimes, and I look forward to a respectful exchange of ideas,” McConnell said. “The next 16 months will provide a great opportunity for Kentuckians to contrast a liberal agenda that promotes a war on coal families and government-rationed health care with someone who works everyday to protect Kentuckians from those bad ideas.”

On Monday, Grimes was accompanied by former Govs. Martha Layne Collins and Julian Carroll as she made her announcement in a former AFL-CIO headquarters building owned by her father, former state Rep. Jerry Lundergan.

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Grimes, 34, was heavily courted to run against McConnell after actress Ashley Judd declined, but Grimes considered the race for three months before announcing her candidacy.

She said Monday that her decision process shouldn’t be confused with “reluctance” or “hesitancy.” Instead, she said, she spent the time looking at the situation closely and talking to supporters.

“I’ve taken the time to gather all the facts, to make truly an informed decision,” she said.

She also took shots at McConnell. “I agree with thousands of Kentuckians, that Kentucky is tired of 28 years of obstruction, that Kentucky is tired of someone who has voted against raising the minimum wage while all the while quadrupling his own net worth,” she said.

“Kentucky is tired of a senior senator who has lost touch with Kentucky issues, voters and their values,” Grimes said.

Duffy said Grimes can raise money both nationally and in Kentucky. Besides being a former state lawmaker, her father is a former state Democratic Party chairman who is close friends with former President Bill Clinton.

Grimes also has a record that will be tough to attack because she’s been in office only 11⁄2 years, Duffy said. At the same time, he said, McConnell could use her lack of experience against her.

The race will be one of contrasts. McConnell is 71 and has worked virtually his entire adult life in government, either as a U.S. Senate staff member, Jefferson County judge-executive or for the past five terms as a U.S. senator.

He once said that his primary goal was to make Obama a one-term president.

Grimes, meanwhile, has spent most of her career working for a Lexington law firm. She ran her first race in 2011 when she ran for secretary of state and beat incumbent Elaine Walker in the Democratic primary.

But like McConnell, she has spent most of her life around politics because of ties to her father.

State Republican Party Chairman Steve Robertson made clear that Grimes’ short record will force McConnell and the party to try to bring her down by attacking Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

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“I think Kentuckians understand what it means to put Harry Reid in a position of strength,” he said.

Gail Russell, a board member of Kentuckians for Strong Leadership, a political action committee already airing ads against Grimes, attacked her in a statement.

“This gives Kentuckians a clear choice between a proven leader who fights for Kentucky every day and an ambitious politician who will sell out Kentucky in exchange for national liberal support,” she said.

But Democrats were downright giddy. For months they have been citing polls that show McConnell vulnerable against a strong opponent and had been desperately trying to find someone to take him on.

Besides Judd, those who have declined to run include Gov. Steve Beshear, Attorney General Jack Conway, Auditor Adam Edelen and former Auditor Crit Luallen.

The only candidates to announce before Grimes were Owensboro contractor Ed Marksberry and Louisville music promoter Bennie J. Smith. But neither is expected to be able to raise the money needed to take on McConnell.

McConnell raised and spent more than $20 million in 2008 to defend his seat against Democrat Bruce Lunsford.

“This is a great day for Kentucky Democrats,” Democratic Party Chairman Daniel Logsdon said. “It means that Senator McConnell’s days in the Senate are numbered. …

“She is a viable candidate who can generate the kind of buzz and excitement that can excite the national donor base and people in Kentucky.”

U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, a 3rd District Democrat who has been critical of Grimes’ protracted consideration of the race, praised her Monday.

“If she is our party’s nominee, she will have no more enthusiastic supporter and tireless campaigner than me,” he said.

Likewise, Beshear welcomed her to the race. “For 30 long years, McConnell has reigned over partisan dysfunction and played political games, bringing Washington, D.C., to a standstill instead of getting things done for the people of the commonwealth and the nation,” he said.

It’s unclear exactly what issues the race will turn on. Grimes took just two questions Monday.

Asked her feelings on Obamacare, she said this election can’t change who is president but can change who represents Kentucky in Washington.

After the news conference, Lundergan predicted his daughter will win and said of McConnell, “He’s a little nervous.”

Jonathan Hurst, a political adviser to Grimes, said her first action will be to build a campaign team and then begin raising money.

He said the campaign doesn’t feel a need to get on the air quickly to combat ads run by Kentuckians for Strong Leadership, noting that a Democratic PAC is also on the air attacking McConnell.